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President Roosevelt writes to C. Hart Merriam at the Department of Agriculture about his trip to Yellowstone Park. He talks at length about the elk at the park, their habits, and how many of them there are.
1903-04-16
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna about his successful hunting trip in the Bighorn mountains with Bill Merrifield. He shot several bears and elk.
1884-09-20
President Roosevelt looks forward to seeing the lion photograph Arthur W. Lewis mentions. He will discuss with C. Hart Merriam the possibility of passing legislation regarding the preservation of elk.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-04
Elmer E. Harriman wants to introduce a certain species of elk to his local mountains, but the state will not allow elk to be shipped out. Harriman hopes that Theodore Roosevelt can use his influence to obtain the rights to take elk from Yellowstone Park.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-06
William G. Beach encloses information regarding elk in Wyoming and asks Theodore Roosevelt to make a statement regarding elk conservation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-18
Civilian Conservation Corps accountant Ware (L) and South Unit landscape foreman Weldon Gratton (R) hold elk antlers during a trip to the Killdeer Mountains in Dunn County, North Dakota. The photograph is part of a three-binder set of pictures taken by Chandler D. Fairbank, Civilian Conservation Corps North Unit foreman at the Roosevelt Recreation Demonstration Area, taken between 1936 and 1937.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1936-1937
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Quentin Roosevelt describing a mother bird feeding her babies and himself feeding an elk at the zoo (he includes a drawing of both).
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1904-06-12
Theodore Roosevelt does not believe the elk in Yellowstone National Park need additional winter grazing grounds. He believes their numbers need to be kept down or “…they would inside of a century, fill the whole United States; so that they would then die of starvation!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-04-17
On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary requests the return of the book on elk in Yellowstone.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-23
Theodore Roosevelt finished Douglas Dewar and Frank Finn’s “delightful and illuminating book.” He sends his pamphlet, which criticizes Abbott Handerson Thayer’s “preposterous work” and uniquely examines the theory of concealing coloration. Roosevelt agrees with Dewar and Finn’s points of over-theorizing and their emphasis on experiments and first-hand field observations. Additionally, he sends his article addressing Alfred Russel Wallace’s “preposterous theory” about antelope horns. He cautiously dissects several of the authors’ points, including dark coloration’s relation to aggression and the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-02
Theodore Roosevelt likes Elmer E. Harriman’s idea of bringing elk from Yellowstone to California in the name of wildlife preservation. He suggests Harriman bring this up with his own senator who could then discuss the matter with Henry L. Stimson, and include a copy of this letter showing Roosevelt’s endorsement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-13
Theodore Roosevelt thanks William Gray Beach for sending him an account related to elk populations. Based on the account, Roosevelt believes it is more humane to reduce elk numbers through hunting, rather than allowing the growing elk population to starve.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-22
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary inquires about the delivery of an elk’s head to Roosevelt’s home in Oyster Bay, New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-15
Theodore Roosevelt informs Frederick A. Lane on the type of elk featured in a picture and provides suggestions of where to find more pictures of the same species.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-22
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Congressman Humphrey that James Stevenson-Hamilton’s book, The Animals of Africa is a “remarkable book.” Roosevelt also expresses his appreciation that Humphrey feels similarly about the approach to handling the elk population in Yellowstone, despite the fact that the plan will likely face opposition. Roosevelt concludes by admitting that he is unsure if he will be able to attend the Boone and Crockett dinner.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-23
President Roosevelt does not believe he ever made remarks about a moose becoming tired and lying down after galloping for five or six hundred yards. Clarence Hawkes might mean that Roosevelt was speaking about elk. In a postscript, he discusses footprints that may have suggested a gallop.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-14
President Roosevelt thanks Judge Melvin for the letter, and is pleased by the action taken by Melvin’s order of Elks to not wear elk teeth as ornaments pending an investigation into the slaughter of elk. Roosevelt hopes that they will make this action permanent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-20
President Roosevelt thanks Henry A. Melvin for the letter, and asks if Mr. Scanlon can give more information about the statement he made regarding elk in Yellowstone National Park. Roosevelt has himself traveled through the park in the spring and did not see any sign of a slaughter of elk, but would like to know about it if there were such signs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-18
President Roosevelt was interested to read John B. Goff’s letter and is pleased that Goff is on good terms with Major John Pitcher, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. Roosevelt is sorry that the elk have had a bad winter but recommends not killing cougar off unless they are in the neighborhood of where the deer and sheep are. He was also interested in a story that Goff told him of a bear running for cover inside Yellowstone to escape hunters. Roosevelt finally remarks that he was glad to hear about Goff’s dogs and mentions that Skip is doing well and stays with his son Archibald B. Roosevelt much of the time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-02
President Roosevelt thanks Charles R. Deloney for sending the photograph of the elk going by his ranch in Wyoming.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-22